December 3, 2008

Patriot Women ranked Eighth in ITA Fall Top 40 poll

Both the Francis Marion University men's and women's tennis teams are ranked in the Top 10 of the fall 2008 Intercollegiate Tennis Association NCAA Division II Top 40 national polls released recently.  The FMU men are ranked fifth, their highest ranking ever, and the women are ranked eighth.

Several Patriot players are also included in the singles and doubles rankings.

FMU head coach Garth Thompson welcomes back six lettermen on the men's side.  The Patriots posted a 19-6 record last spring, advanced to the NCAA Division II Elite Eight in Houston, Texas, and ended the season ranked seventh nationally.   The 19 victories equaled the team's single-season record.

The Patriot women return four players from last year's program-best 23-3 squad that ended the year ranked fifth and also advanced to the Division II Elite Eight.   FMU's only three losses were to the national champion (twice) and to the national runner-up (once).

Individually, sophomore Oshada Wijemanne (19-4 singles record in 2008) is ranked seventh among NCAA Division II men's singles players.

On the women's side, Patriot junior Tereza Sykorova (21-2) is ranked ninth nationally among Division II singles players.  The doubles team of Sykorova and junior Valeska Ibscher is ranked eighth.

Thomson, entering his 17th season as head coach of both the Patriot programs, has amassed a 236-112 men's record with 12 trips to the NCAA Tournament and a 197-144 women's mark with eight NCAA national tournament appearances.

In the Southeast Region fall rankings, the Patriot men and women are ranked second and third respectively.

Both squads will open their 2009 season on Feb. 1 at Coker College.

 

ITA Fall 2008 NCAA II Women's Top 40 Poll (Oct. 31, 2008)

1. Armstrong Atlantic

2. BYU-Hawaii

3. Valdosta State

4. Lynn

5. Columbus State

6. West Florida

7. Abilene Christian

8. Francis Marion

9. California of PA

10. Clayton State

11. Nova Southeastern

12. Hawaii-Pacific

13. Northwood, MI

14. Tarleton State

15. Rollins

16. Grand Valley State

17. Florida Southern

18. Northeastern State

19. Georgia College

20. Drury

21. Barry

22. Cal State Univ. Stanislaus

23. UH-Hilo

24. St. Edwards

25. Augusta State

26. UC San Diego

27. Slippery Rock

28. East Central, OK

29. Erskine

30. Cameron

31. Tusculum

32. Cal Poly Pomona

33. Northern Kentucky

34. Central Oklahoma 

35. Flagler College

36. Incarnate Word

37. Cal State LA

38. Charleston WV

39. Concordia College

40. Mesa State